AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL!

The capitol building is also a must-see of Washington D.C.  So much history has taken place in that place!  That could be said about the whole city, but the capitol building is quite impressive, not just the structure but what it represents. 

While in America’s capitol, do not forget to explore the museums!  The Smithsonian Institution of the National Air and Space Museum is full of fun and famous displays.  Space capsules, rockets, gliders, and planes fill the museum.  The actual Spirit of St. Louis hangs from the ceiling, and a replica of Amelia Earhart’s plane is displayed.  The Imax Theatre is also a great attraction to witness. 

The Museum of Natural History is also full of artifacts of America’s past.  Abraham Lincoln’s top hat can be seen; it was the hat he was wearing at the theatre the night he was shot.  The same chair Lincoln was sitting in at that moment is also on display.  The museum also holds Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the famous Wizard of Oz.  A larger display holds the dresses of all the First Ladies of the United States.  These dresses were the ones that were worn on inauguration day. 

From coast to coast, Americans need to go visit historical sites and national and state parks that show the beauty of nature.  It is extremely beneficial to take in the scenery of mountains, forests, oceans, fields, and rivers.  Stir one’s patriotism with trips to battle fields, museums, and memorials.  Go and enjoy this land we call home!  

Google Images:

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THE HOME OF THE FREE

The Lincoln Memorial is another great stop in our nation’s capital.  Take time to not only capture pictures of the great statue of Abraham Lincoln who brought the United States through one of the hardest times in our nation’s history but also read the texts engraved into the walls of the memorial.  Particularly in Washington D.C., make the effort to read the inscriptions and signs that are throughout the city. 

Other memorials include the Korean War memorial, the World War II memorial, and the Vietnam War memorial.  Show respect to those who have given their lives for America’s freedom.  May one’s appreciation of the liberty grow while visiting these war memorials. Stop complaining about little petty things one does not have, and be thankful for all that one does have.  Americans can be good at forgetting what is really important. 

The tallest monument in Washington D.C. is the Washington Monument.  The base of the structure is surrounded by fifty United States’ flags, one for each state.  Visitors can either climb hundreds of stairs to get to the top or ride the elevator up to look out over the capital city. 

The Jefferson Memorial honors one of America’s founding fathers and our third president, Thomas Jefferson.  His statue stands in the center of a domed building.  Make sure to read the words that are carved into the stone walls. 

A tour of the White House would be a spectacular once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Washington D.C. is full rich experiences.  

Google Images:

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THE LAND OF THE BRAVE

When discussing places to visit in the United States, it is impossible to leave out the importance of our capital, Washington D.C.  Time spent here is more important than any other vacation spot.  All the history that can be encountered in Washington D.C. will renew one’s patriotism and gratefulness for the sacrifices of past generations.  Trips to historical landmarks and battle sites are extremely beneficial for all Americans; observing these places and reading about America’s historical events and people can change one’s view of life.  Things that once were complained about suddenly become unimportant.  Events and comforts given by technology are enjoyed.  Overall, places like Washington D.C. can fill Americans with the sense of thankfulness.  Step back from one’s busy life and acknowledge the blessing of freedom in this country. 

One of the first places my family visited in Washington D.C. was Arlington Cemetery where we viewed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Eternal Flame at the Kennedy grave, the USS Maine memorial, and the Arlington House, a memorial for Robert E. Lee.  Yes, it is not the happiest place to visit, but all the memorials and all the tombstones remind us of all the great men who have served our country.  Many lessons can be learned from them. 

This is a small view of Arlington Cemetery.  On the hill is the Arlington House, home of General Robert E. Lee who led the Confederate forces during the Civil War.  

Google Images:

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GRAND MOUNTAINS & A ROARING RIVER

It was a short drive to Grand Teton National Park.  Its name fits it well; those mountains truly are grand!  Out in remote places of the West, the Milky Way can actually be seen too!  There is something about seeing all those stars that puts one’s life in perspective. 

There in Grand Teton National Park, the hiking was great because the views were spectacular.  It was not only the mountains; the land around the mountains (Jackson Hole) was lovely too.  My mom has wanted to go back to this park ever since that summer that we visited Wyoming.  More fine scenery was coming though!  For a day trip, we worked our way into Montana to go white water rafting.  If one ever has the opportunity to go rafting through rapids, do it!  It is so fun and invigorating! 

It so happened that my family members who sat in the front were being soaked by the rapids.  Since I, however, was sitting in the back of the raft, I was hardly wet.  Our guide then took us through the next rapids sideways.  It worked; I then was thoroughly soaked. 

A section of the river was called Swimmers’ Rapids because one could jump out of the boat to swim.  This was absolutely fun!  After my brothers saw that I was enjoying it, they jumped in, yelled, and climbed back into the raft.  They thought the water was cold; I teased them about this. 

After an interesting time at an outdoor restaurant, Helen’s, where we ate buffalo burgers and milkshakes, we drove back to our campsite.  Our three week vacation came to an end with a three days’ drive back home.  

http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/wyoming/images/s/wyoming-grand-teton-national-park.jpg

MORE & MORE BUFFALO

After enjoying the national monument, we were off to Wyoming!  During road trips, one typically reads a book, listens to music, or sleeps; but driving through the West, one is quite content to just look out the window.  The landscape is so much more interesting than the Midwest.  The mountains, forests, and rivers are always changing; there is always more beauty to behold around the bend.  Through this countryside we headed for Yellowstone National Park.  We saw Old Faithful in all her glory as well as many other geysers, hot springs, and mud pots. 

It is here that we met up with my uncle and cousin.  All of us hiked through the sulfur-smelling gas of the hot springs.  In one place along the boardwalk, a plume of rotten egg-smelling gas was continuously blowing.  Just before passing through this gross cloud, one would take a deep breath and hold it until you reached the other side.  My cousin enjoyed showing us that he liked the smell; several times he walked into the smoke while plugging his nose.  Ugh!  The smell was terrible!

Driving through the park forests, one could see that recently a fire had burned down many trees, but new growth had appeared.  This was exhilarating to appreciate. 

Here we saw many buffalo; some were even walking through the campsite!  A few times we had to stop our car to wait for a herd of bison to move past.  For one herd that was the biggest we encountered, people were getting out of their vehicles to better pictures.  My dad was out videotaping when a buffalo sauntered up behind him, but it just looked at him and walked away.  It is all on tape too!  

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I FOUND ALASKA!

This time, our camping trip out west was planned for July instead of June to avoid certain weather issues that the reader may remember.  We drove through Wisconsin and Minnesota to South Dakota.  While we were eating lunch by the Mississippi River, we witnessed an amazing sight to us.  A bald eagle swooped down across the water.  This is special to us, especially my brother, because it was his birthday.  Little memories like these may not seem important to some people, but to those involved, the memories are important.  Hence another reason to go on a vacation, it is not just to tour America but to spend time with one’s family or friends.

In South Dakota, we visited several historical sites of Laura Ingalls Wilder because we love the Little House on the Prairie series, at least we girls do.  Next, we ploughed through beautiful countryside to the Black Hills, the Badlands, and Mount Rushmore and camped at Custer State Park.  These places were fantastic to visit!  I remember many things about them: seeing our first buffalo, exploring the landscape of the Badlands, hiking closer to Mount Rushmore and learning about its construction, and taking several scenic hikes. 

While on road trips, we usually write down all the different state license plates we find.  After climbing in the Badlands on a warm day, we slowly walked back to our van; but we came across a rare state license plate.  My mom exclaimed loudly, “ALASKA!  I found Alaska!”  We were amazed to see this, but what excited us more was that someone was in the car from Alaska, and the windows were down!  The man got out of the car laughing; and he told us about his trip so far and that other people do the same thing my mom did.  My family has never let my mom forget this! 

Google Images:

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ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

One of the largest places in the world to view natural rock arches and formations is in Utah at Arches National Park.   Scattered across the red desert landscape are thousands of sandstone structures.  Hikers can view many arches on trails such as: Balanced Rock Trail, Fiery Furnace, Eye of the Whale Arch, Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch.  An ideal spot for campers to pitch their tents is at Devils Garden which is a good place to start one’s adventures. 

A famous arch is Landscape Arch.  Its length is two hundred ninety feet which makes it the largest arch in the world.  It has deteriorated in parts, but it is quite picturesque because of its large size but small center. 

Sticking straight up into the sky near Devils Garden is the Dark Angel.  This rock formation is one hundred fifty feet high, jutting upwards into the arid atmosphere. 

One of the most recognizable structures of Arches National Park is Delicate Arch.  It stands in the middle of a sandstone bowl and is in contrast to the rock planes surrounding it.  The hike up to Delicate Arch is particularly steep in some places. 

Another attraction is this park is Double O Arch.  This consists of two arches; a large arch sits on top of a smaller arch.  In the Devils Garden area of the park, Double O Arch is the largest arch second to Landscape Arch. 

One does not see such amazing landscapes as one does here in Utah.  Yes, mountains, forest, and beaches are beautiful; but they are more common than the structures at Arches National Park.  

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/arches.htm